Operation
UNION and UNION IIQue
Son area, Republic of Vietnam, 25 April to 5 June 1967

This
is not an official USMC combat operations page, but my personal attempt
to recover as much info as I can about the operations participated in
by the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines in Vietnam. I will be posting recollections
and pictures (when available) from Marines and FMF Corpsmen who participated
in Operation UNION and UNION II. Comments are from informal emails,
phone calls, and other correspondence to Brad and I. All related pictures
and information is greatly appreciated.~DR

Throughout this period,
the 5th Marines (Reinforced) was assigned the mission of destroying the
enemy forces, their supplies and equipment. With the initiation of a heavy
engagement by a Marine rifle company in the vicinity of La Nga (2), the
5th Marines deployed to exploit the contact. Unable to disengage while
being subjected to relentless pressure, the 21st North Vietnamese Regiment
finally made its stand at the hamlet of Phouc Duc (4).

For four days commencing
12 May, 5th Marines attacked the fortified enemy positions. Valiantly
withstanding heavy enemy mortar barrages and repelling fierce enemy counterattacks,
the Marines shattered the entrenched enemy. Operation UNION II was launched
on 26 May with a helicopter-borne assault to destroy the withdrawing remnants
of the 21st North Vietnamese Regiment.

UNION
and UNION II inflicted over three thousand enemy casualties and eliminated
the 2nd North Vietnamese Army Division as a combat force to be reckoned
with for many months. The entire 5th Regiment received the Presidential
Unit Citation awarded by President Johnson.
( Source
of information: "United States Marines" published by the
United States Marine Corps Division of Information, Feb. 1969)

The
first photos of the first med evac's at the start of Operation UNION (that
was when the M-16's didn't work!). The fighting was so heavy and intense
that it was 4 days before any wounded could be brought out. Gen. Westmoreland
took one look, and gave up his helicopter to be used for evac's. "Doc"
Vic Perez

Denny
Dinota joined the Marine Corps at age seventeen. Here he was, in combat
for the first time as a twenty-five year old Staff Sergeant. He had missed
going to combat as a rifleman. There just hadn't been a war and he couldn't
do anything about it. He was with Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
for six months. Here are some of my memories of Denny.

In his
first large operation, Operation DESOTO, Staff Sergeant Dinota distinguished
himself as a platoon commander by ensuring the destruction of a series
of six mutually supporting enemy bunkers connected by a number of trenches.
While sprinting over open terrain to direct fires of machine guns and
rocket launchers, he marked enemy positions for air and artillery. His
skills were obvious. He knew how to look out for his men and he could
lead; and, his knowledge of infantry weapons, support arms, offensive
and defensive tactics, and map reading was superior.

Denny
received a meritorious promotion to Gunnery Sergeant just prior to to
Operations UNION and UNION II and became Company Gunnery Sergeant. Additionally,
he served as Company Executive Officer in the field. During Operation
UNION, Denny was continually picking fragments from his red, largely swollen
left arm. It was obviously infected. He wouldn't turn himself in and wasn't
about to leave in spite of the Battalion Commander's expressed concern
to me. It seemed combat to him was both a mental and physical challenge.
He fought aggressively, but with control. Denny constantly checked lines
at night for security. He was keenly aware of ammo, water and supply requirements
and kept up with them at all times. On the move, his major effort was
to detect ambushes or surprises.

In mid
May after an all day encounter with NVA forces, the company set up nighttime
defensive positions. At dusk and into darkness, Gunny Dinota had the right
flank of the company lines moved back and new positions dug in. At midnight
when the company again came under intense NVA mortars, the bugles sounded
and a ground attack followed. The main thrust of the NVA ground attack
was where Denny had moved the lines and the enemy advanced right into
our machine guns, rifles and M-79s firing down their flank. The NVA assault
met with disaster. Several days later, Gunny Dinota became aware of two
Marines (found to be mortally wounded) in front of the company perimeter
in danger of being captured by the NVA. Amid mortars and small arms fire,
he quickly organized and led a squad along a trench through an exposed
rice paddy. From there the Marines and their weapons were evacuated back
to the company perimeter without a casualty.

Throughout
these operations Denny possessed a unique ability to quickly and accurately
diagnose the strength, disposition and size of an enemy force. He was
a superb leader who looked out for his men.

These
are a few of my memories of Denny. After Denny was transferred from Mike
Company, he received a Battlefield Commission in August. J.
R. McElroy, Jr.

Denny
Dinota
Plt. Sgt., Plt. Cmdr., Co. GySgt.
M Co

I served
with Mike Company from about Dec. '66 through Operation DESOTO - end of
Jan. through Feb. '67, and through Operations UNION and UNION II spring
and summer of '67. Transferred out after ADAIR to DaNang area the end
of June early July (?)

I was
platoon sergeant and platoon commander of 2nd platoon (and another platoon
for a short while), and was the company gunny during UNION and UNION II.
During UNION and UNION II 3/5 engaged in three pretty big battles. Mike
Company was up front in all of them.

May
12-13

On May
12-13, we got what you might call Banzai-ed after an all day fight.
We were out-numbered by several hundred. The NVA did manage to break through
our line, but died for their efforts. During times like that you
don't see officers and staff getting up running about the area giving
directions and displaying leadership and all that stuff. You couldn't
stick your little finger in the air without getting it shot off. The skinny
kids in the fighting holes did what they were trained to do, and did it.

My point
man was the first to come upon what was left of Fox 2/1. He first came
up on a Marine machine gun squad still around their gun. Because they
still had their gun means to me that they fought until they died, and
the enemy never got the gun. About 10 yards further, we came upon the
rest of the company. They were on line, halfway across a rice paddy,
dead. Most of them anyway. Very few emergency evacs. Officers still had
their radio hand sets to their ears. All very surreal.

During
that time earlier in the day as we were losing people we received replacements
from the rear. They were cooks, bakers and candle stick makers who probably
earlier in the day were fat and happy and getting a sun tan. Boy, were
they in for "It." Anyway, when the sun came up in the morning
we were all in a daze.

I didn't
count the dead NVA, but the rumored number was 167 that they left
on the field. We don't know how many they managed to take with them.

Combat
experience is all relative to each individuals own experience. During
January and February we had been in some pretty good scraps. I knew I
had experienced combat. I could have left the war and felt satisfied.
The company had seen the elephant. On May 12-13 and the rest of Union
I realized that I (we) hadn't seen shit.

And it
never stopped for six weeks.

About
a week after Union we were still in the field on yet another operation.
I was standing at the bottom of a hill when a company runner came running
down and with excitement told me that I was getting transferred. I felt
bad about leaving, but at the same time I couldn't believe that I just
might get out alive. As I started up the hill to the C.P. Bill Vandegriff
stopped me to tell me thanks. I'll never forget that. Coming from
a man like Vandegriff it was like getting the Medal of Honor.

There
is no way to describe what goes on, and everybody while going through
the same experience remembers it differently. Strange life we have here.Denny

Frank
Jurney, M/3/5

Arrived
in RVN-Chu Lai Nov. 66- assigned M/3/5 status 03 infantry Nov. to May
-I participated in all operations and duties of a front line Marine. May
to 2nd week of Dec. I was picked by Captain McElroy to be a noncom assistant
-job break down in the rear I was driver-rear secured zones. I also participated
in all operations that M/3/5 was involved in. After Skipper Mac tour I
remained on the same job.

About
10-10:30 a.m. on May 1, 1967, I was shot while on an operation. I was
carrying a radio for Lt. Johnson of the 3rd Platoon. Around 11 a.m.
I was picked up with some other Marines and medevaced to a field hospital
where they removed the bullet and tended to me and others.

Just
after dark, two helicopters came to take us to the hospital ship, the
USS Sanctuary. The helicopter I was on was equipped to hold stretchers,
and was loaded with all Marines on stretchers. The other helicopter took
Marines on stretchers, and also those who could walk.

A
short while after we took off, I saw tracers going up and our window gunners
firing down. I also saw the muzzle flashes from the gunner on the other
chopper, so I know they also received fire. This lasted only a short time.
We continued out over the ocean to the Sanctuary. The helicopter I was
on landed on the Sanctuary first. While we were being unloaded, the other
helicopter circled. Before the helicopter I was on took off, the other
one crashed into the sea.

A
few days later, some of those from that helicopter were recovered from
the ocean by sailors from the Sanctuary. I always thought that the details
of that tragedy had been passed on to relatives. I did not know it was
listed as mechanical failure till I saw it on your page (May
1, 1967 Memorial page). I believe that it was due to enemy fire.Kevin
Kelly

Dennis
"Ski" Tylinski, Roger Gaughan, Bob S.
M/3/5 3rd Platoon

Roger
Gaughan (center) was one of the wounded Marines killed in the helicopter
crash 1 May '67.
Picture courtesy of Dennis Tylinski.

Byron
Hill
M/3/5

Served
as Forward Observer with Mighty Mike from March through September 1967.
Then served with 3/5 Hdqtrs. until January 1968. Was proud to serve with
Captain McElroy; Gunny Denny Dinota and a bunch of other great Marines
during Operation UNION, UNION II; COCHISE; SWIFT; and several smaller
operations.Semper
Fi, Byron

Outside
our tent on Hill 65.
Hill 65 was the base camp we established at the end of Operation
UNION.

Some
mortar fins which the bad guys had tossed at us on one of the operations.

How
the hell are all you jarheads after 34 years?? I'm like the the rest
of you guys, I can't remember names or faces. If anyone remembers me,
please give me an email. I think I remember Bowers, not sure. I was
on Operation DESOTO, UNION I/II, and patched a lot of you grunts up.

I remember
an ambush I went on just outside of Hill 69. I carried a 12-gauge shotgun
and accidentally shot it off while trying to remove a rock from under
my butt. We had just set in and I had given off our position by discharging
the shotgun. The squad leader called in to get permission to return
to base but was refused because we had just got out there. The rest
of the night was a little on edge. Give me a shout. When I can scan
my pictures, I will.DOC
(Dan) Link

Hello
3/5. My name is Domenic Carota. My brother John Thomas Carota
was WIA on Union May 13, 1967 with Kilo Company. He was KIA on Swift
9/6/67. My family would appreciate hearing from anyone who knew my brother.
Thank you.~Domenic

Served
with Kilo 3/5 and know for sure that Kilo Company was there though no
mention has been made. I don't remember much other than a lot of fighting,
a lifer hiding behind a rock during a firefight, a sniper bullet that
traveled between myself and another Brother at one time (we both heard
it zoom between us - can't remember who he is), and loading bodies onto
choppers.

I
don't remember a whole lot about UNION. I was with H&S then and was
keeping track on casualties. I was wounded about 2 weeks or less after
it commenced. Col. Esslinger and I were wounded on the same blast. Ran
into Col. Esslinger at PI after I returned in '68, I assume he may have
been medically retired, he wasn't there long. Helluva guy, always liked
him.

Semper
Fi,
Hank

Frank
E. Clark
Mike 3/5

I was
with Mike Co. from Dec. 1966 until Nov. 1967. I was a Sgt. serving as
Machine Gun Section Leader, Weapons Plt. Sgt. and 2nd Platoon Sgt. I
was on Operation DeSoto, Union I, Union II and several others. In Nov.
' 67, I was transferred to Security Platoon, Hqs. Co., Hqs. Bn. providing
security around the Command Bunker at Freedom Hill. I rotated back to
the states in Jan '68.

Hey!
fellow UNION Brothers, this is Terrapin India here. Like this site a
lot. Hope some India UNION guys check in along with our brothers from
Mike and the rest of the Bn. This is where I cut my teeth on in the
Nam was UNION and pow! we was out on UNION II. Was
incountry from March '67 to April '68. Company radioman after UNION
II. Thank God for that. Great site, and I'll be checking in on it often.

I was
with India company beginning with a rough rider from Chu Lai to Da Nang
(just after HASTINGS) UNION I and UNION II, and SWIFT. There were some
lesser known, but no less deadly operations in between.~Sgt.
George "Hap" Hazzard, I/3/5

Ted
"Randy" Randolph
H&S 3/5

My
name is Ted Randolph, but everyone in the Nam called me Randy. I was
with 3/5 H and S Company from March '67 to April '68, 81mm platoon..
I was on UNION and UNION II, ADAIR, CALHOUN, and a bunch more. I would
like to get in touch with some of the guys.